Sounding device.



PATENTED JAN. 80, 1906.

S. EARLE. S0 UN DING DEVICE. APPLIGATION FILED MAY 1a. 1003. RENEWED JULY 1 f/VVE/VTOR @104 5% By I a) Al /0% l V/ YNESSES' SWEIPSON EARLE, OF WASHING-TOW, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

sounmm e. DEVICE.

are. 811,207.

Patented Jan. 30, 1906.

Application filed May 13, 1903. Renewed July 15, 1905. Serial No. 269,906.

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SwnrsoN EARLE,aC1tI zen of the United States, residing at VVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sounding Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in sounding devices and shoal-water indicators; and it has for its objects, among others, to provide a simple and cheap, yet efficient and reliable, device of this 7 character by which the depth of water can be readily determined. I provide for the ready placing of the device in operative position, it being normally folded or laid alongside the vessel, and suitable means being provided for raising and lowering it, as occasion may re uire. It embodies a bar or rod, preferab y V shape in cross-section, so as to offer theleast amount of resistance to the water, a roller or the like carried by one end of said bar or rod and the other having operatively connected thereto an index or hand movable over a dial fixed in any suitable position on the vessel. To the axis of the roller is applied in any suitable manner a rod or bar which is graduated and normally standing in a vertical position to indicate the depth of water. This rod or bar passes through a pivoted guide which allows of the folding of the device substantially parallel with the deck of the vessel when not in use. This pivoted guide also permits of the necessary movement of the said rod or bar as the roller changes its position according to the depth of the water.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by the appended claims.

The invention in its preferred form is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a detail showing the indexrod in cross-section and the dial in elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail at right angles to Fig. 2, showing the support for the axis of the index and the support for the dial. Fig. 4 is a detail of the guide for the graduated rod.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the details of the drawings, 1 designates the hull of a vessel of any known type.

2 is a rod or bar substantially V shape in cross-section, as seen clearly in Fig. 2, for the purpose of decreasing the resistance in its passage through the water.

3 is a yoke or the equivalent, in which is mounted the shaft 4, carrying the roller 5. This yoke may be attached in any suitable manner to the rod or bar 2, such as by a pivot, as indicated at 6, while 7 is another yoke rising from the shaft 4 and one end of the rod or bar 8, which is graduated, as indicated in Fig. 1, so that the depth of the water may be readily determined by a look at said rod or bar. This rod or bar extends upward, and its upper end. is curved or hooked, as seen at 9. The rod or bar 8 is guided through a suitable guide 10, which is swiveled, as at 11, in a suitable bracket 12, secured in any suitable manner to the rail 13 or other portion of the vessel, as seen in Figs. 1 and 4.

14 is a rope or cable or other ligament attached pivotally, as at 15, to a lug or the like 16 on the rod or bar 2, and this rope or the like is designed to extend upward and to be used for raising and lowering the rod or bar 2 and its accessories when desired. It may extend over a pulley (not shown) on the standard 17, rising from the side or other portion of the vessel, as may be found most expedient. The opposite end of the rod 2 has a universal or ball-and-socket connection 18 with a shaft 19, mounted in suitable bearings 20 and 21, the latter mounted in a bracket 22, secured to the rail or other portion 13 of the vessel. A removable pin or pins 23 serves to detachably hold the parts of the universal ball-and-socket joint or connection against separation. One portion 24 of the ball-and-socket joint or connection. is shown in this instance as being formed integral with the bar 2, and a bolt 25 is shown for rigidly holding this portion in position. A finger or index-hand 26 is carried by this portion 24, as seen best in Figs. 2 and 3, being offset, as seen at 27 in Fig. 3, so as to bring it parallel to and in close proximity with the dial 28, which is a'l'lixed in position in any suitable manner. It will be readily understood that as the arm 2 is moved by reason of the roller 5 changing its position the finger or pointer 26 will be moved over the dial, and the arrangement of parts is such that the having attached thereto IIO able,

depth of the water will be indicated by the position of such finger on the dial.

When not in use, the device is thrown up into the position in which it is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the swiveled guide for the rod 8 permitting this movement. The full lines in Fig. 1 indicate the operative position of the parts.

From the above it will be seen that I have devised a simple, cheap, yet efiicient and relidevice for the purpose specified, and While the structural embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed is What I at the present time consider preferable it is evident that the same is subject to changes, variations, and modifications Without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages. I therefore do not wish to be restricted to the details of construction herein illustrated, but reserve the right to make such changes, variations, and

' modifications as come within the scope of the protection prayed.

The size and shape of the variousparts may be varied, and any suitable material may be employed therefor.

What I claim as new is 1. A sounding device comprising a bar, a roller carried thereby, a graduated rod actuated by the movement of said roller, and a movable guide for said rod.

2. A sounding device comprising a bar, a roller carried thereby, a graduated rod actuated by the movement of said roller, a movable guide for said rod, and an indicator controlled by the movement of the other end of said bar.

3. A sounding device comprising a bar, a. roller carried thereby, a pivot for one end of said bar, and a ball-and-socket connection between said pivot and bar.

4. A sounding device comprising a bar, a roller carried thereby, a pivot for one end of said bar, a ball-and-socket connection between said pivot and bar, a fixed dial, and a finger movable with said bar for cooperation with said dial.

5. A sounding device comprising a bar pivotally mounted at one end and carrying an index-finger, a dial cooperating with said finger, a roller carried by the other end of said bar, a graduated rod movable with said bar, and means for raising and lowering the same.

6. A sounding device comprising a bar pivotally mounted at one end and carrying an index-finger, a dial cooperating with said finger, aroller carried by the other end of said bar, a graduated rod movable with said bar, means for raising and lowering the same, and a swiveled guide for said rod.

7. A sounding device comprising a bar adapted to be pivotally mounted above the deck of a vessel, a contacting member carried thereby, a graduated rod rising from the free end of said bar and actuated by the movement of said member, and a swivel-guide for said rod.

In testimony whereof I affix in presence of two witnesses.

SWEPSON EARLE.

Witnesses:

ALEX. J. WEDDERBURN, Jr., Rosn M. SEFToN.

my signature 

